Launching apparatus



Nov. 24,V 1925- F. F. PEASE LAUNGHING APPARATUS Filed Jun@ 1'7, 192() 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24, 1925- F. F. PEASE LAUNCHINQ APPARATUS yFiled June 17, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. :a4I 1925.

F. F. PEACE LAUNCHING APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1920. 3 Sheets-snaai'I www lill

Patented Nov. 2e, 1925.

FRED FOB/REST PEASE, 0F EAST BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAUNCHING- APPARATUS.

Application filed June l1",

To c?! ralf/cfm it muy @ufff-era.'

Be it known that l, lilium iluminar Picasa, a citizen of the `lnitcd States, residing at Braintree, in the county ot Norfolk and State oi lliassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Launching Apparatus; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oit the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to launching apparatus and more particularly to apdesigned to launch i lifeboat or similar craft trom a vessel or land station.

The desirability ot a launching device which will insure the launching oli a lifeboat well clear ol the ship no matter how heavy or rough the sea and withoutdanger ot entanglement with the launching gear will be self-evident to those skilled in the art. Launching gears at present in use are ditlicult to handle in a rough sea and are not capable of successfully launching a boat clear oit the vessel.

lt is one object of the present invention to provide a comparatively simple and efiicient launching apparatus which shall insure that a boat will be invariably launched upon an even keel and at a considerable distance from the vessel.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide a launching device which is relatively inconspicuous and occupies a small space when supporting the boat in the inboard position.

lt is a still further object of the invention to provide a launching apparatus which may be controlled in its entirety by a single operator without liability of the lifeboat becoming entangled with the launching gear.

lli/l ith these and other objects in view, the various features oit the invention consist in certain novel :features ci constri'lction, combinations and arrangements of parts herein after described and claimed, the advantages ot `which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, Fig. l illustrates partially diagrammatically a side elevation olf the launching device supporting a liieboat in the inboard position with the device in outboard position ready to launch ieee. serial No. 389,599.

a boat, shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating a top plan view of the launching device swung partly outward from the inboard position; Fig. 3 is a detail ol* a portion of the tackle employed to control the movement of the launching device; and Fig. dis a view looking fore and aft along the vessel and showing the launching device in outboard position at approXi mately the point at which the lifeboat becomes water borne.

The present invention comprises essentially a boat supporting member together with means jfor moving the member simultaneously outwardly, downwardly and lengthwise of the launching platform. The boat supporting member is mounted upon the upper ends of a plurality of arms hinged at their lower ends to the side of the vessel or other support in such a manner that the arms move outwardly, downwardly and lengthwise of the launching platform to deposit the lifeboat well clear of the platform. The boat supporting member may be either a cradle or a member of some form from which the boat is suspended by tackle which may be readily disengaged when the boat reaches the water. ln the preferred form of the invention a cradle is employed which supports the boat from underneath and this cradle -is hinged to the upper ends of the supporting arm in such a manner that it will be constantly maintained in an upright position with respect to the launching platform during the outward and downward movement of the supporting arms. construction is simple and particularly efficient it launches the boat well clear of the vessel and avoids any liability of the boat becoming entangled in launching tackle. As soon as the cradle reaches the water the boat becomes water borne and immediately leaves the cradle which continues its downward movement toward the side of the vessel. In connected with the launching"v apparatus, means are provided for constraining the movements oi' the cradle with respect to the vessel so that it may not swing freely with relation thereto during the movement from inboard to outboard position. Furthermore, after the boat is launched `from the supporting cradle and the latter continues its downward movement toward the vessel any subsequent rolling or pitching of the vessel tend- This ing to move the cradle upwardly toward the water will bring the cradle to the surface of the water between the lifeboat and the vessel, avoiding any liability of the cradle engaging with and injuring the boat.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a cradle 10 consisting oit three cradle members 12 rigidly connected by a longitudinal member 14 is supported upon a plurality of parallel arms le. These arms7 in the present case three in number, are hinged at 17 upon the side of the vessel or launching platform above the water line and at 18 to the underside o1c the cradle. The two sets of hinges for the upper and lower ends of the arms are arranged parallel to the decl; of the vessel or the surface of the launching platlorm but the axes or the several hinges which are parallel to one another are inclined with respect to these surfaces. rl`he result ot' this construction is. as shown in the drawings, that as the arms 16 swing outwardly to move the cradle 'from inboard to outboard position the vcradle is moved outwardly7 downwardly and longitudinally of the vessel while constantly retained in an upright position. Each of the arms 16 is connected adjacent the upper hinge 18 with a guy cable 2O which extends from this point of connection with the arm to a fixed point 22 on the vessel or launching platiorm. ln the illustrated embodiment of the invention the connection points 22 preferablyv consist of ring bolts 23 set into the deck of the vessel and it will be observed that these points 22 are spaced inwardly from the side of the vessel upon which the hinges 17 are located. The points of connection 22 of the cable 2O in each case are coincident with the axis of the corresponding hinge 17 so that in effect each arm 16 with its cooperating cable 2O forms a triangular supporting member hinged upon a line extending through the hinge 1.7 and connection 22. lt will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 2 that each of the hinges 17, in addition. to being angularly disposed rith respect to a horizontal plane passing through the vessel, is also inclined with respect to a vertical plane7 the upper end oi" each hinge being tipped inwardly to cause the axis of the hinge pintle to pass through the cooperating connection 22.

lt is important in any form ot launching apparatus that the launching ot a boat may bc accomplished by a single operator without danger or liability of the launching gea-r becoming entangled during the launching ot the boat. The present form of launching apparatus is particularly well adapted for this purpose, as will be evident Yfrom the following description. rlQhe launching cradle which supports the lifeboat is connected upon its underside with what may be termed a paying out line 3() which is wound about `a drum 31. This line, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, may be conveniently connected with the cradle through a bridle 33 the opposite ends of which are secured to distance pieces 32 fastened to the underside of the cradle. In addition, the side of the cradle and one of the supporting arms 16 is connected with a second line wound about a drum 36 and designed to be talcen in as the cradle moves trom inboard to outboard posit-ion. As vill be obvious Yfrom an inspection of Fig. El, the line 35 passes through a sheave 37 connected with the side of the cradle and thence Xtends to a ring bolt 38 secured to the arm lo at a point below the upper hinge 18. The two runs ot' the .line where it passes through the sheave 3T are enclosed by a ring Ll0, the arrangen'ieut being such that when the line is wound upon the drum the tendency is to pull the sheave 3T toward the connection point 38 and move the cradle bodily outwards. lt will be observed from an inspection oi Fig. 2 that the line 35 passes `from the ring l0 directly to a' sheave 42 secured to the vessel either at or beyond the Yforemost connection 22 and from this point rearwardly, to the drum, around a pulley block 43. lilith this construction by properly designing` the diameters of the two drums 31 and 36 they may be mounted upon the same shaft and the line 30 payed out as the line 35 is taken in so that the cradle is held between the two lines in such a manner that it cannot swing free with respect to the vessel or launching platform. The drums 31 and 36 are mounted upon the same shaft and may be conveniently operated through gearing 5 by a motor 46 controlled in any suitable manner.

rlhe advantage of such a system of control for the launching apparatus must be self-evident to those skilled in the art as the pull upon the line 35 is suiiicient to initiate the outward movement of the cradle even although the launching device as a whole may be encased with ice or otherwise prevented from freely moving, whereas when the cradle is well clear of the vessel this line which is constantly 'fore-shortened as the cradle moves. to outboard position prevents any backward movement ot the cradle with respect to the vessel which would otherwise be liable to occur when launching in a heavy' sea. The advantages furthermore of having a system of one man control are iliarticularly evident, as in the present construction this control may be removed at some distance from the launching point and the operator stationed within a deck house or otherl shelter where his control will vbe uniinpeded.

ln the usual operation ot the apparatus, more especially in a rough sea where the vessel may be rolling or pitching, the lilieboat is tilled with the required number of passengers and the motor then started to move the cradle with the boat carried therein sutliciently to just clear the vessel or into the position shown approximately in llig. 2. lll/hen the vessel then starts to roll toward Jthe side on which the launching device is positioned, the motor is iininediatel f started to move the cradle into an outboard position and when the cradle has been moved a sullicient distance outward the current is thrown off and the motor allowed to run tree, the launching cradle and supporting arms then dropping, due to their own weight, until the cradle reaches the water level when the boat immediately becomes water borne and is lifted ott the cradle in the direction of the length olf the vessel while the cradle continues its falling movement through the water. Should the roll ol' the vessel cause the cradle to be brought to the surface suddenly it will pass upwardly between the boat and vessel without danger ol" injuring the boat. litter the boat is launched clear olf the cradle the motor is operated in the reverse direction to bring the cradle bach to inboard position. ln connection with the freeing of the lifeboat from the cradle, it will be noted upon referring to llig. 3 that the cradle is provided with a wedge-shaped socket le for the reception ot the lreel ot the lifeboat which is so designed that while the weight oit the lifeboat is supported by the cradle the former will not slide longitudinally even though the cradle may be tipped to sorne considerable degree, but immediately when the lifeboat reaches the water level, it will become water borne and be readily treed from the sockets de.

The present invention also contemplates means for handling a plurality ot lifeboats with one and the same launching apparatus und to this end, as shown in Figs. l and il, an overhead track is provided from which one or more liifeboats may depend tln'ough sliding connections, indicated at 5l. lWhen the tiret boat has been launched trom the cradle, the latter is returned to inboard position, as shown in dotted lines in llig. i2, and the second boat moved along the track` into position above the cradle at which time it is disconnected from the trick and supported by the cradle. rlhis pro .is may their be repeated until the ded number oli boats have been launched. will be observed troni an inspection ot llig. 2 that in the .inboard position, the cradle with the lifeboat supported therein is conven` ntly located in a recess 53 formed in the de A-t the side ot the ship and so located u i resgect to the hinges 17 that the three ai ns 1G when in this position are inclined inwardly from the vertical, thus tending to hold the cradle in this position and permitting it to be lashed rigidly in place. ln orner to permit this nesting olf the boat and cradle in the recess, the side of the vessel between the hinges 17 and the cradle is conveniently,7 recessed sulliciently to receive the arm 16 when the launching device is supported in inboard position.

lt will be evident to those ,sl-illed in the art that although the present launching device has been shown and described as particularly adapted t" launching ol liteboats troni vessels, it is also well adapted for the launchi. r ot boats from stationary places, as land :1i or lighthouses and may in addition be e iiployed t'or the launching ot' hydroplanes 'om vessels.

lt is to be understood that the term launching platform as employed throughout the specification and claims is tor convenience ot description and embraces any type oit platform whether forming a part ot the vessel or stationary member, such as a wharf, landing or lighthouse.

WThile it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement ot parts shown and described, will be understood that this coi'istruct-ion and arrangement is not essential except so tar specitled in the claims, and may be changed or modified without departing from the broader features of the invention.

|The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

l. A launching apparatus comprising a cradle, a plurality ot diagonal arms hinged at their lower ends to a launching platt'orm and at their upper ends to the cradle with the axes of the hinges inclined to the cradle and parallel to one another to move the cradle l'roni inboard to outboard position in a path which extends outwardly, downwardly and lengthwise ot the launching platform.

2. fl launching apparatus comprising a cradle, a plurality of supports for the cradle hinged upon parallel axes inclined to the launching, platform, and a plurality or hinges connecting the supports with the cradle turning about axes parallel to the lirst mentioned hinges.

8. A launching apparatus comprising a cradle, a plurality ot diagonal arms supporting the cradle, a pair of diagonal hinges connecting' the top and bottoni ot each arm with the cradle and launching platform respectively, the axes oi all of the hinges being inclined with respect to the launching platform and parallel to one another.

d. A launching apparatus comprising a plurality of diagonal supporting arms hinged at their bottom ends to the launching platform, a cradle and hinge connections between the top ends olf the arms and the cradle designed to invariably maintain the cradle in the same angular relation with respeel to the lzuuichiug platlmm s the arms swing lo more the cradle from inhourd to out-board position.

A la-unehinv (Lppau'a'mr; eoi'uprising u plurality oli diagonal :unis hinged lo me lminehin` platform :it their lower culle, a, plurality of guyza Coiinectng he upper emls of the arms7 each guy being conneeierl zu', ils opposite end te (he hu Eug pletf'm'ni :zat a point coineiilen willi rue mi olf the hinge connection in lhe lower end olf the arm.

C. fr launching appui-alii; eou'igrising.; u cruelle, means; 'for supporting iihe cradle constructed mul operating; ie ove the hitler from inboarel lo oulbxmrcl pu. .ien in :L path extending oul.\\;f.r lly und lovvuvfeudly, tuo

lines connected with the cradle, and means lor paying out one line und :simulaueously drawing in upon the bjeeoncl line.

7. A launching appr-rutina comprising a cradle, a plurality o Supporting arms hinged it their upper ends to the cradle and :it their lower enfls to the :side olf the vesS-iel, guys eonnecing the upper eiuls olf the airing with lined points upon 'ille Vessel coincident with the a-xefl; olf tl e lower arm hinges, l'wo stets oi' line connecleil with he' cradle, :unl means for siiiiiiltaiwlmsly laying out one line und drawing in upon 'Jue nemend line to move the cradle from inhozu'il lo outboard position or Vice Versa.

FRED FOR-REST PEASE, 

